Summary
Led the multi-year redesign and ongoing stewardship of a nonprofit’s website, turning it into the primary digital hub for donations, volunteers, and client resources. Launched the first modern site in 2019, shipped rapid COVID delivery tools that served 250+ families, and delivered a 2024 conversion-focused refresh. Results to date: $97.6k raised online, 478 volunteer sign-ups, a 45% lift in monthly volunteer sign-ups, and major-gift share up to 40%.
At a Glance
Role: Website Coordinator and Digital Transformation Advisor
Audiences: Donors, volunteers, and clients seeking services
Problem: The prior site was outdated, hard to find, and could not support online giving or volunteer sign-ups. The pantry needed a reliable digital front door for fundraising, recruiting, and clear client information.
Solution: A modern, mobile-first site with clear paths to Get Help, Volunteer, and Donate, followed by a 2024 refresh focused on speed, clarity, and conversion.
Key Features: Action-first homepage; online donations with suggested tiers and recurring gifts; simple volunteer sign-up; mobile action bar (call, hours, directions, email); streamlined navigation and page structure; plain-language client content; SEO improvements; fast emergency update workflow.
My Contributions: Strategy and roadmap, research and IA, UX and UI design, copywriting, implementation in Squarespace, vendor integrations, analytics setup, ongoing content and operations, COVID delivery tool deployment.
Tools: Squarespace and Fluid Engine, Google Workspace for Nonprofits, SEO tools, Figma, Loom
Outcomes: $97.6k online donations, 478 volunteer sign-ups, +45% monthly volunteer growth post-redesign, major-gift share increased to ~40%
From Helping Out to Taking Charge
I began at New Hope Community Food Pantry as a teenage volunteer. Years later, as a graduate student in Human–Computer Interaction at DePaul University, I returned with a new way to serve: build a website that could fuel donations, recruit volunteers, and guide clients to resources.
The Before State (pre-2019): Invisible, Inflexible, Offline
The pantry’s old website was: outdated and non-responsive, disconnected from its domain, not visible in search, and unable to accept online donations or volunteer sign-ups.
The First Build (2019): Launching a Real Digital Front Door
With a small grad-school team, I rebuilt the site on Squarespace to create the pantry’s first modern, mobile-friendly digital presence.
What we shipped
Clear paths for Get Help, Volunteer, Donate
Online donations and volunteer sign-ups for the first time
Plain-language client content (hours, eligibility, how it works)
Improved discoverability through structured IA and metadata
Process
Conducted 12+ interviews with clients, donors, and volunteers
Ran IA workshops to prioritize key actions
Iterated on copywriting and task flows to ensure clarity and ease of use
When Crisis Hit (2020): Rapid Response During COVID
During the pandemic, I built and launched an emergency delivery sign-up that enabled 250+ families to receive food at home. I also established workflows for same-day updates during closures, weather events, and other disruptions.
Evolving the Platform (2019–2024)
For five years, the site ran smoothly, supporting emergency response and enabling thousands of donations and sign-ups.
By 2024, my skills had advanced and Squarespace’s tools had matured. I returned to modernize the site, add new functionality, and refresh the design so the pantry could continue scaling its digital presence with confidence.
The 2024 Overhaul: Streamlined, Mobile-First, Conversion-Focused
I modernized the site with Squarespace Fluid Engine, focusing on clarity, speed, and trust.
What changed
Action-first homepage with direct CTAs: Get Help, Volunteer, Donate
Donation chips ($40 / $80 / $130 / $250) + recurring option, replacing one-time manual entry
Mobile action bar for instant access: Call, Hours, Directions, Email
Consolidated navigation and simplified page structure
Refreshed visuals (imagery, iconography, hierarchy) for a modern, credible look
SEO-optimized copy to improve visibility and reach
Results & Impact
Performance Tracking
$97,600+ raised online since launch
478 volunteer sign-ups recorded
45% increase in monthly volunteer sign-ups post-update (12.5 vs. 8.6/month)
Donor Analytics
Major-gift share increased to 40.3% of revenue (from 31.6%)
Average gift size rose to $131.52 (+$5.91 over previous period)
Community Communication
Enabled 250+ families to receive food deliveries during COVID
Published same-day updates for emergency closures, weather events, and holidays
Digital Stewardship
Established a cadence of content refreshes and imagery updates
Coordinated with pantry leadership and vendors on donation bookkeeping and integrations
Implemented Google Workspace for Nonprofits to streamline digital operations
Designed for Three Audiences
Clients: Fast path to hours, address, eligibility, and “how it works”
Volunteers: Simple form, clear expectations, immediate confirmation
Donors: Suggested giving tiers, recurring toggle, trust-building layout
Lessons Learned
Lead with actions: Put critical CTAs on the front door
Reduce friction: Suggested amounts + recurring boost conversions
Design for mobile: Most supporters access on their phones
Make updates effortless: A nonprofit site must update in minutes, not days
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